Romney Tackles Middle East Policy in Latest Speech

Photo Credit: AP

Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney addressed his foreign policy positions in a speech at the Virginia Military Institute. Romney suggested that “it’s time to change course in the Middle East.” ”I know the President hopes for a safer, freer, and a more prosperous Middle East allied with the United States. I share this hope,” Romney said. “But hope is not a strategy.”

He called on the U.S. to work with other countries to arm the Syrian rebels to help them defeat Bashar Assad. Vis-a-vis Iran’s link to Syria, Romney said that with the help of allies the U.S. should “support the many Syrians who would deliver that defeat to Iran rather than sitting on the sidelines.”

On foreign aid, Romney said: “I will make further reforms to our foreign assistance to create incentives for good governance, free enterprise, and greater trade, in the Middle East and beyond. I will organize all assistance efforts in the greater Middle East under one official with responsibility and accountability to prioritize efforts and produce results. I will rally our friends and allies to match our generosity with theirs. And I will make it clear to the recipients of our aid that, in return for our material support, they must meet the responsibilities of every decent modern government—to respect the rights of all of their citizens, including women and minorities… to ensure space for civil society, a free media, political parties, and an independent judiciary… and to abide by their international commitments to protect our diplomats and our property.”

Romney also pledged to “deepen our critical cooperation with our partners in the Gulf” and “reaffirm our historic ties to Israel and our abiding commitment to its security.”